Volvo’s Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection System could assist in this regard by continuously monitoring the bus’s vicinity using a camera and detection algorithms.

“When the system detects unprotected road-users near the bus, it transmits a sound to warn other road-users that the bus is approaching,” the vehicle maker said.

“At the same time, the driver is alerted via sound and light signals inside the vehicle. If there is an imminent risk of an incident, the bus’s horn is activated.”

Danielsson said that the technology shares components with similar systems already found in some makes of cars; however, its key point of difference was being able to warn both parties of an issue before it was too late.

One reason Volvo is keen to see the technology fitted to buses is that the trend to electric vehicles is removing the warning signs to a pedestrian or cyclist of a bus approaching.